Matrix delivery means for typographical line composing machines



y 1951 H. R. FREUND 2,560,517

MATRIX DELIVERY MEANS FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL LINE COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1948 INVENTOR HERMAN R. FREUND ATTORN EY Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATRIX DELIVERY MEANS FOR TYPO- GRAPHICAL LINE COMPOSING MA- CHINES Herman Richard Freund, Brooklyn, N. Y., as-

signor to Intertype Corporation,

Brooklyn,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical line composing machines and more particularly to improvements in certain organs by which the type-character-bearing elements or so called matrices employed in such machines are conveyed toward the line composing station where they are deposited from a reclining position on the conveyor to an upright position to form an assembled line thereof.

The improvements of the invention are-directed to the provision of element conveying means suited especially for use in composing lines of type-character-bearing elements or matrices bearing photographable type characters disposed on or in a surface thereof which is susceptible to contact with the surface of the traveling conveyor, as distinguished from the conventional type-slug-casting matrices bearing intaglio'characters punched in a narrow edge thereof which is out of range of contact with the conveyor.

One example of a photographable characterbearing element to which the invention applies is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,231,925 wherein the character may be carried on a plaque comprising a piece of film or glass disposed either on or slightly below the surface of a flat side face of the element, about centrally of its length, and susceptible to reproduction by transmitted light. Or, as stated in said patent, the character may be presented on the flat side of the element body in color or tone on a contrasting background from which the character stands out for photographing by reflected light. Another example is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,486,834 wherein the character is carried on a plaque inserted in an aperture extending transversely through the element body about centrally thereof, the plaque comprising a piece of film or the like bearing the reproducible character and covered at its opposite sides with transparent cover members of such thickness as to lie about flush with the adjacent side faces of the element body.

While the element conveying means as heretofore provided on commercial line composing machines, wherein the usual flat and flexible matrix delivery belt passes over crowned upper and lower pulleys, is quite satisfactory for conveying the familiar slug casting matrices to the line composing station adjacent to the lower pulley, the outwardly convex form imparted to the taut belt as it runs over the crowned lower pulley is a distinct disadvantage in connection with transporting photographable character-bearing elements of the kind identified.

The disadvantage arises from the fact that the crowned lower pulley flexes the taut and otherwise fiat running belt to an outwardly convex form at the critical point in the path of elements lying flatwise and static on the fiat belt, that is, the point at which the belt starts to round this pulley and the elements simultaneously encounter the usual chute plate which yieldingly presses them toward the belt while deflecting them toward the upright position they must assume as they leave the belt and in so doing retards their forward progress. As a result, relative motion is created between the running belt and the retarded elements as the central portion of the undersides of the latter is forced into tangential contact with the convex surface of the belt. In consequence, the type character on the flat side of the elements, or such cover as may overlie it, is susceptible to scratching, streaking and other damage from friction and rubbing thereover of the convex surface of the belt. Thus, the character is obviously unfit for perfect photographic reproduction, whether it be in negative or in positive form or be designed for reproduction by reflected or transmitted, light, it being well known that in either case any defects are certain to be picked up by the camera.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved conveyor construction for typographical machines wherein, in the delivery to the line composing station of matrices or equivalent elements provided with a photographable type character on a surface thereof by which the elements are supported while being conveyed, contact between the conveyor and the type character is avoided as the elements are deflected relative to the conveyor in passing therefrom to the line composing station.

A further object is to provide an improved con-.

veyor construction for typographical machines wherein, in the delivery of matrices or equivalent elements bearing a photographable type character on a surface thereof by which the elements.

are supported flatwise for delivery in upright position to a line composing station, the element supporting surface of the conveyor is flexed laterally to an outwardly concave form at the point Where the elements while moved by the conveyor are deflected to an upright position.

According to the present invention the foregoing objectives are attained by establishing such novel relation between the character-bearing elements and that portion of the well known delivery belt where the elements are deflected relative thereto toward the upright position they must assume at the line composing station on the machine that the type character and the field adjacent thereto is isolated from contact with the belt over such portion thereof. To this end, the belt, which runs in tension over the customary upper and lower pulleys, is caused to provide a spaced r lationship between its element supporting surface and the characters of the elements over the portion thereof where it rounds the lower so-called assembler pulley. According to the invention such spaced relationship is established by forming the assembler pulley concave in order to enable it to impart a corresponding laterally concave disposition to the taut and laterally flexible belt, and the lower end portion of the belt supporting plate, which heretofore has been made fiat and is disposed quite close to the aforesaid pulley, is formed in a manner calculated to favor assumption by the belt of such concave disposition as well as to direct and maintain the belt in running alignment with. the concave pulley.

The invention will now be described in con nection with accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typographical element having a photographable type character disposed in a plane parallel to the broad fiat sides of the body of the element.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the improved conveyor construction according to the invention as applied to the familiar matrix delivery and assembling organs of a typographical machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the conveyor construction shown in Fig. 1 embodying the improvements of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line d- -4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in section on the line 55 in Fig. l, illustrating the conveyor belt as associated with the conventional form of driving pulley having a crowned periphery.

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5 but illustrates the conveyor belt associated with a driving pulley in accordance with the present invention having the concave periphery.

Referring to the drawing, a photographable character-bearing element of the kind disclosed in my Patent No. 2,486,834 hereinabcve referred to and which is susceptible to the advantages of the invention is indicated at ill in 1. As shown, the character-bearing plaque ii is disposed substantially centrally of the intermediate body portion 52 of the element, and as designated in Fig. 6, the plaque comprises a thin piece of film F bearing the type character and which is disposed between transparent covers C at opposite sides. The edgewise thickness of the marginal rib portions 53 of the element body represents the setwise width of the type character borne by the plaque i i, the letter T for example as here indicated.

A conveyor construction embodying the features of the present invention, is shown in Fig. 2, the improved parts being arranged in cooperative relation with the familiar assembler entrance plate 15, belt supporting plate 56, spring influenced chute plate ll, chute block is and star wheel Ill. The usual downwardly inclined fleXi-- ble, fiat and endless conveyor or delivery belt 253 is disposed in a taut condition, usually over an upper idler pulley (not shown) over the lower or assembler pulley 2! which is the driving-pulley for the belt. An element or matrix ID, as in Fig. 1 (but thinner by reason of bearing a narrower character) is illustrated as lying in recumbent position and static on the belt 20 prior to reaching the line composing station Where the elements are deposited by the star wheel I9 in upright position against the usual upright finger seen to the left of the star wheel. Another element Ill is shown as being urged under the chute plate ll by the running belt while in known manner being deflected by the chute plate toward the upright position it finally assumes by reason of the action thereon of the star wheel at the line composing station.

According to practice heretofore and as indicated in Fig. 5, the pulleys for the conveyor belt 2!] have been of the ordinary crowned form and accordingly the convex peripheral surface 22 of the lower pulley Zi Fig. 5, has imparted a corresponding outwardly convex configuration to the taut and laterally flexible belt 20 over the portion thereof running around this pulley. The effect of such convex configuration of the belt 20 if used to convey elements of the kind shown in Fig. 1 will be apparent at once from an inspection of Fig. 5. Here it will be seen that the character-bearing plaque I l of such elements of a font thereof as are relatively thin is susceptible to intimate contact with the convex sur face imparted to the running belt at the point where it starts rounding its lower pulley. As a result, the character plaque is subjected to damage and contamination by reason of any dust, gum or dirt particles accumulated on the belt from atmospheric conditions and otherwise, and more especially by reason of friction generated between the running belt and the adjacent underside of the element as the chute plate ll operates in known manner to deflect it upright and in so doing retards its progress and urges it'against the belt.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing condition conducive to damage and contamination is corrected by providing the lower pulley 2| with a shallow laterally concave peripheral surface 23, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, whereby as the taut belt runs over this pulley its element supporting surface is flexed from its otherwise flat disposition to suchlaterally concave form as to provide a spaced relationship between such surface and the characterbearing portion of the adjacent side face of the elements as they pass through the zone where they are influenced by the chute plate I1.

The belt supporting plate l6, which heretofore has presented a laterally flat belt supporting end portion close to the pulley 2|, is formed slightly concave laterally as at 24, Fig. 4, and is provided with upturned flanges 25. Accordingly, as the taut belt approaches the lower pulley 2| it is unrestrained at the underside and thus free to flex toward the laterally concave disposition induced by the concave periphery 2-3 of the pulley, the belt being guided and maintained in running alignment with the pulley by the upstanding flanges '25.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent thatas each element Ill lying recumbent and static on the flat supporting surface of the inclined belt reaches the point where the chute plate I! retards its a forward progress, by deflecting and thus rocking it so that thecentral area of its character-bearing side is forcibly pressed-into tangential contact with the belt, only the marginal edge portions 26 of the belt contact with the opposed marginal rib portions 13 of the element, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. In other words, the running belt lS forced into a laterally concave form at the critical point in the travel of the elements toward the line composing stationthe point where the belt starts rounding its driving pulle 2i and the chute plate opposite such point simultaneously deflects the elements toward an upright position as they leave the belt. Thus, as each element is'urged under the chute plate H the upper concave surface 27 of the taut belt prevents contact thereof with the character-bearing plaque, thus obviating the possibility of damage to or contamination of the plaque or the character thereon or the field around it from friction or rubbing thereagainst of the running belt.

In the practice of the invention the tip ends of the prongs of the usual star wheel l9 may be provided with a central depression or relief such as the laterally concave form indicated at 34, Fig. 3, thus to obviate the possibility of such prongs impinging against the character on the side face or surface of the elements when the prongs become worn from repeatedly striking the elements in well known manner to flip them to an upright position. Obviously, such depression or relief in sures engagement of the prongs only with the marginal edges of the elements passing thereover.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the advantages of the invention will accrue in respect to photographable character-bearing elements whether the character be designed for photographic reproduction by reflected or by transmitted light, and whether the character or its surrounding field be susceptible to damage or contamination, by the devices which convey it to the line composing station, by virtue of the physical nature or arrangement of the character and/or its field or by virtue of direct or indirect contact with the conveying devices.

While the invention has been shown and described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to understand the same, it is to be expressly understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the inventive concept underlying the same. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except insofar as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a typographical machine having a line composing station, the combination of an endless flexible conveyor belt normally presenting a flat surface for supporting thereon elements having a photographable type character disposed about centrally of a surface thereof which lies recumbent and static against the flat surface of said belt as the latter conveys the elements toward the line composing station, deflecting means in the path of the elements toward the end of their travel on the belt and adapted to rock the elements relative to the belt toward an upright position as they leave the belt, and a belt driving pulley having a concave periphery adapted to flex the flat running belt to a corresponding laterally concave form in timed relation with rocking of the elements by said deflecting means, whereby the character on the surface of the elements adjacent to the running belt is isolated from contact with the belt over such portion thereof as supports the elements while rocking.

2. In a typographical machine having a line composing station and employing elements bearing photographable type characters on their flat side faces and adapted to be assembled at said station in upright position in face-to-face relation, the combination of an endless flexible conveyor belt having a flat element supporting surface on which said elements lie recumbent and static while being conveyed toward the line composing station, a belt driving pulley located adjacent to said station and having a concave periphery, and an element deflecting member disposed opposite a portion of the belt as it starts rounding said pulley, said deflecting member operating to rock the elements toward an upright position relative to said portion of the belt and to press them toward the belt, and said concave pulley flexing the belt into a laterally concave form such as to cause only its marginal edges to support the elements as they are rocked by said deflectin member.

3. In a typographical machine having a line composing station and employing elements bearing a photographable type character on a fiat side face thereof, the combination of an endless flexible conveyor belt adapted normally to present a flat surface for supporting said elements recumbent and static thereon by their characterbearing surface and extending in taut condition from an upper pulley to a lower belt driving pulley adjacent to the line composing station, and a deflecting member adapted to rock the elements relative to the belt toward an upright position and in so doing to press their character-bearing surface into tangential contact laterally with the belt as the latter starts roundin its driving pulley, said driving pulley being formed with a laterally concave periphery adapted to flex the belt to a corresponding form over the portion thereof where the elements are pressed against the belt, whereby only the marginal edges of the belt contact the elements as the latter are rocked relative thereto and drawn thereby past said defleeting member.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, including a belt supporting plate having its end portion adjacent to the belt driving pulley formed with upturned sides for directing the belt into running alignment with the concave periphery of said pulley.

5. In a typographical machine having a line COll'lDOSlIlg station, the combination of conveyor mechanism including a flat running belt for conveying toward said station photographable typecharacter-bearing elements lying recumbent and static thereon with the character-bearing surface thereof against the belt, a deflecting member in the path of the elements toward the end of their travel on the belt, said member operating to rock the elements relative to the belt toward an upright position as they leave the belt and in so doing to press the elements against the belt and retard their forward progress, a belt driving pulley located adjacent to the line composing station and about which the running belt turns while conveying the elements past said de fleeting member, said driving pulley having a concave periphery adapted to flex the belt laterally to cause only its marginal edges to support the elements while conveying them past the deflecting member.

6. In a typographical machine having a line composing station, the combination of conveyor mechanism including a flat running belt for conveying toward said station photographable typecharacter-bearin elements lying recumbent and static thereon with the character-bearing surface thereof against the belt, said conveyor mechanism including a belt driving pulley adjacent to the line composing station and over which the elements are carried by the belt then turn toward an upright position and leave the belt as the latter rounds said pulley, and a belt supporting plate in advance of said pulley, the peripheral surface of said pulley and the end portion of said plate adjacent thereto being shaped to temporarily distort the element supporting surface of the belt from a fiat to a laterally concave form, whereby only the marginal edge portions of said belt engage the character-bearing surface of the elements as the latter turn toward an upright position upon leaving the belt.

HERMAN RICHARD FREUND.-

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Vaughan Jan. 17, 1905 Turner Jan. 19, 1932 De Save Dec. 31, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden June 1, 1939 

